Putting Morality Back into Politics

Machiavelli almost succeeded in removing morality from European politics and, indeed, since his day it has sometimes been assumed that morality and politics are separate. Ryder argues that the time has come for public policies to be seen to be based upon moral objectives.

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Machiavelli almost succeeded in removing morality from European politics and, indeed, since his day it has sometimes been assumed that morality and politics are separate. Ryder argues that the time has come for public policies to be seen to be based upon moral objectives. Politicians should be expected routinely to justify their policies with open moral argument. In Part I, Ryder sketches an overview of contemporary political philosophy as it relates to the moral basis for politics, and Part 2 suggests a way of putting morality back into politics, along with a clearer emphasis upon scientific evidence.

Source: PsycCRITIQUES

Credit: Christopher H. Ramey

"Ryder comments on an impressive range of political and moral philosophers from Plato, Aristotle, and Machiavelli to Hobbes, Locke, and Jefferson and to Rawls, Singer, Nozick."

Source: Metapsychology

Credit: Steven Napier

"Provides a well written, concise, consolidated history of ethical and moral thought that has evolved over the last 2,500 years. I would recomend it to all persons interested in the level of morality and ethics in the post-modern world."